Text messaging has become an important part of the day-to-day relationships for millions of people. For some, it’s a primary form of communication and helps people keep in touch at times when calls can’t be made. But text messaging isn’t as personal as a face-to-face conversation or even a phone call. Feel Me, a soon-to-be-released messaging app, aims to add a little more “feeling” to phone messaging.

The app displays, in real time, where the person at the other end of the message is touching the screen. Users can see each others fingers tapping at the virtual keyboard or just feeling out for a touch reply. In addition to the visual cues displayed when someone is touching the screen, a vibration or sound can be played when the two people are touching the same area to mimic the feeling that they’re actually touching each other.

While the app is currently functional, it hasn’t been released yet. On the Feel Me official websites, potential users can sign up to be notified when the app is released. We look forward to taking a look at this one when it comes out.

Swann, a global leader in security monitoring systems, and also a producer of many remote controlled (RC) helicopter models, has just announced the addition of a new RC helicopter to its fleet that can be controlled via an iOS device. The i-Fly Micro Lightning is an RC helicopter that can be controlled by iOS devices through Swann’s free iFly app and an adapter that fits into the device’s audio jack. The user can control the i-Fly Micro Lighting with on-screen touch controls or by tilting their device in tilt mode. There is also a 3-way infrared control included to control without an iOS device. The little helicopter charges via USB and will fly for up to 8 minutes on a full charge.

The i-Fly Micro Lightning will retail for $69.99, and will be available from Fry’s Electronics, BrandSmart, and other major retailers. The free iFly app is available for download form the Apple App Store and is compatible with iPhone, iPod, and iPad devices running iOS 3.0 or later.

FREE!

Swann iFly

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-10-05 :: Category: Entertainment

Something is going horribly wrong with Apple’s legendary veil of secrecy. Following the highly documented iPhone prototype leaks already this year, it now appears that a prototype iPod touch has escaped into the wild as well. The same Vietnamese website that, to the best of our knowledge, still has an iPhone 4G prototype is now posting images of a prototype iPod touch with a built-in 2 megapixel camera. As before, Tinhte.vn has also posted a video of the device in action that appears to be running some kind of diagnostic tool with some very un-Apple graphics, but it does show the camera working. Last time we posted about Tinhte.vn we mentioned the dramas Jason Chen of Gizmodo encountered when showing off video of an Apple prototype and urged a little caution. The guys in Vietnam obviously missed that post or simply don’t care, this time they even include footage of them walking into their office!

While this is clearly a prototype model, it may not be that new. Apple is alleged to have scrapped an iPod touch with a camera shortly before its iPod event in September 2009 where it instead launched the iPod nano with video. Images circulating on the web around that time also looked very similar to these. Mac Rumors claims that the codename N18 on the sticker one of the images makes this model a third-generation iPod touch prototype, manufactured in June 2009. Whether or not Apple is planning to return to the iPod touch with camera remains to be seen but these pictures at least prove that they have tried it.

And meanwhile, across the South China Sea, more iPhone prototype information is being spilled. Taiwanese website Apple.pro has posted what appear to be shots of the next generation iPhone’s front fascia. This isn’t exciting in itself, given that we’ve seen what we expect to be the finished product already, but what is interesting is one of these front panels is white. Apple already sells the iPhone with a black or a white back panel and, if these images are true, now plans to sell a completely white version as well. We’re not sure we like the idea of an all-white iPhone, especially if the aluminum seen on the black prototype is included on this white version. We may well think differently when we see the final product, however, with Apple being a company synonymous with beautiful products. Then again, Apple used to be a company synonymous with pre-launch security…

[ via Tinhte.vn ]

[ via Apple.pro ]

Apple announced new iPod Nanos and iPod Touches today as expected. In addition, iTunes 8 was announced. All the stuff we knew was coming due to leaks. What we didn’t get were new features or the notification service (originally promised for this month, but pulled from developer betas recently) for the iPhone OS.

While iPhone OS 2.1 was announced, it’s a bug release fix only. Promised fixes include improved iTunes backup times, fewer dropped calls, better reception, better battery life, and fixing app crashes. We’ll see when it’s released Friday for iPhones. iPhone OS 2.1 comes on the new Touch out today so expect some reviews online in the next couple hours.

Apple has scheduled an event Tuesday. The main purpose of that event is to launch new iPod Nano and Touch models. But it’s also expected that iTunes 8 will be released with features like a Pandora-like Genius, new visualization, and grid view.

But more importantly iPhone OS 2.1 should also be released to coincide with the expected release of the notification service scheduled to be released in September. With the iPhone OS 2.1 and notification service I would expect to see Apple release a mobile version of iChat. Or at least I would hope to see it. This was rumored from the start for the 2.0 release but it seems that the notification service was not ready for that release in July.

We’ll see what Steve has in store for us Tuesday.